Automatic printing scale



,March 716, 1926.

S. G. CRANE AUTOMATIC PRINTING SCALE Filed Nov. 21. 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet1 March 15 ,"1926. 1,577,012

S. G. CRANE AUTOMATIC PRINTING SCALE Filed Nov. 21. 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet2 Sam-deb 6'. Crane March 16 1926.

s. G. CRANE AUTOMATIC PRINTING SCALE 6 gets-Sheet 3 Fi1ed.Nov. 21 1919gwuawtop WAX/W Match 15 1926.

s. G. CRANE AUTOMATIC PRINTING SCALE Filed Nov. 21 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet4.

gwoentoz Samue/ 6'. 0/4/78 March 16 1926.

5. G. CRANE AUTOMATIC PRINTING SCALE 6 Sheets-Shet 5 I Filed Nov. 21.1919 Saw/if 7; W

Momma I March 16 1926. 1,577,012

s. G. CRANE AUTOMATIC PRINTING SCALE Filed New 21. 1919 e sheets-Sheet ei. Patented Mai-J6, 1926 I I UNITED STATES *l -ATENT' OFFICE.

' sAmUEL G. CRANE, F TOLEDO, OHIO, AssIGNoR To TOLEDO sCALE COMPANY, or

, TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC PRINTING SGALE.-

Application filed November 21, 1919. Serial No. 839,685.

To all whom it may concern: In the drawings Be it known that I, SAMUELG. CRANE, a Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the head citizen of theUnited States, residing at of an automatic printing scale embodyingToledo, in the county of Lucas and State my invention, the cover platebeing re- 6 of Ohio, have invented certain new and moved; 65

useful Improvements in Automatic 'Print- Figure 2 is a detail elevationof a part of ing Scales, of which the following is a the mechanism shownin Figure 1, aportion specification. of the paper-feeding mechanismbeing This invention relates to automatic checkshown in section;

1 printing scales, and has for its object the Figure 3 is an elevationof a member for 60 provision of a machine which will automatpositioningone of the type-carrying bars; I ically determine the weight of acommodity Figure 4 is a vertical section taken subplaced on theplatform, print the same upon stantially on the-line 44 of Figure 2;

a check, and issue the check by means 'en- Figure 5 is an end view ofprinting mechtirely within the scale itself, the only operaanism forminga feature of my invention; tion performed by the operator being theFlgure 6 is a detail sectional plan view placing of the commodity uponthe plattaken substantially on the line 6-6 of,Fig form. Thus, the scaleautomatically furure 2 and showing the check-severing knife; 1nishes'a'memorandum of the weight, which Figure 7 is a perspective viewof a art in'stores and shops may constitute a check of the knife and arocking cam for hol ing said-mechanism will not be actuated until inOperation; and

- to be forwarded to the cashier and in factothe paper in position to besevered;

ries forms a permanent'record of the weight Figure 8 is a detail view ofa paper feed of the machine part or other commodity that roller pinionand ratchet; I is passed over the platform. When oper- Figure 9 is adetail-elevation of-a ribbon ated' in connectionv with a conveyor,sucfeeding pawl and ratchet; cessive commodities may be weighed andFigure 10 is an elevation of a portion of a printed records of theweights issued in timer forming a part of my invention; rapid successionwithout the assistance of or Figure 11 is a plan. view of the switchattendance of a weight-checking clerk. Va- Operated thereby; 30 riousother uses to which the scale is adapted Figure 12 is a perspective viewof a re- 8 will readily occur to those skilled in the art. settingdevice, a portion ofthe timer being Another object of the invention isto proshown in connection therewith; vide a novel mechanismior. sotiming the Fi re 13 is an elevation of a master operation of theprinting machanism that switc for setting the electric mechanism afterthe weighing operation is completed I Figure 14 is a diagrammatic viewof the and the weig ing parts of the scale are at various circuits empoyed and the devices rest. a l p controlled thereby.

With the above and other objects in view, While my invention isadaptableto many which will readily appear as the invention different st les andmakes of scales, whether 'is better understood, my invention consiststhe load-o setting device therein be s ring, of the novel. construction,combination and lover or pendulum, tho present embo lment arrangementOf'parts to be hereinafter more is particular] adapted for use inconnection full described-and particularly pointed out with dial sca es,where'an indicating hand is- "f in t e appended clalms. I adapted toswing over a graduated chart to 96 Reference is to be had tothe'accompanyindicate the'weight of the commodity being ing drawingsillustrating a preferred emweighed. I bodiment of my invention andwherein simi- Referring to the drawings in detail, the

lar reference numerals designate similar numeral 1 indicates a Scalehousing mounted parts throughout the several vlews. I on a column 2which houses the connections m between the steelyard'4 and the platformlever'mechanism (not shown). As the particular weighing orload-offsetting mechanism of the scale forms no part of the 'pres ingout invention, I will describe it briefly, the mechanism beingpreferably of the type adapted to weigh comparatively heavy loads, thecapacity of the'scale herein illustrated being 1000 lbs. The pendulummechanism is one that has been found to successfully demonstrate thecapabilities of the invention, and shows a double pendulum scale of awell-known type'having a pair of oppositely-swinging load-offsettingpendulums 5, each of which comprises supportsegments 6, the segments 6being suspended from the lower ends of flexible supporting ribbonssecured at their upper ends to the framework of the scale. Intermedb atethe supporting segments of each pendulum is a somewhat larger segment 8,said segment being connected at its upper enc to 'a flexible metallicribbon which extends over the arcuate face of the segment and isattached at its lower end to an equalizer bar which is in turn connectedto the steelyard is substantially identical.

4. The construction of the two pendulums During the swinging movement ofthe pendulums to offset the weight of the load the rack. 13 connectedthereto is moved vertically upward, sai rack meshing with a pinion 14fixed upon an indicator shaft 15 carrying the index hand 16. Thispendulum counterbalance mechanism is suflicient to independently offsetthe weight of all loads within the capacity of the scale. Supportedwithin the housing 1 and arranged to be held open when the scale is inzero position by means of a lug on the steelyard rod .4: is a masterswitch 5' in circuit with a source of current G and a solenoid S. Thesolenoid S .is an element of the timing device which'forms an importantfeature of my invention. The timing device may be mounted under thescale platform or at any convenient place within or without the scale,for since it is not mechanically connected to the weighing mechanism orprinting mechanism, its location is immaterial. The core 6 of thesolenoid carries a rack bar 7 mounted for endwise movement on rollers 8'mounted in'stationary uprights 9, as clearly shown in Figure 10. Apinion 10 having its teeth in mesh with those of said rack bar isrotatably mounted upon one ofthe uprights. Connected to said pinion.

and constantly urging it to turn in a direction such as will withdrawthe core from the solenoid is a spiral spring 11. The rack bar 7 carries9. lug 12 which, when the core is drawn into the solenoid, engages aprojection 13 on the slidable bar 14 and thereby moves the bar 14 toopen at 15' the circuit controlling the solenoid S (see Figure 11).

Pivoted on the insulated plate 16 is an arm .17 which is yieldingly heldin the position in which it is shown in Figure 10 by means of a spring18. =The arm 17 carries a pawl 19 which hangs in the path of the In 20attached to the rack bar '7. The paw 19 is pivoted upon the arm 17 sothat it may be rocked out of the way of the lug 20 as tate during theinward movement of the core 1 6 without being retarded by the pendulum22. The timing device is so adjusted that the first of the variouscircuits'controlled thereby will not be closed until a sufiicient timehas elapsed for the weighing mechanism to come to rest in weighingposition.

The indicator shaft 15 of the scale carries a plate 23, the perimeter ofwhich is made up of a series of concentric arcs giv- (1 ing itsubstantially the form of a stepped spiral, the function of which'willappear later. A circular plate D, preferably formed of soft iron, iscarried by the indicator shaft 15, and projecting rearwardly from saidplate D substantially parallel to the axis thereof is a series ofequally spaced pins 24.

Pivotally mounted secured to the frame 0 the scale is a hub carrying asubstantially semicrescent shaped sector 27. The hub also carries asector 28 havinga series of stepped peripheral prou on the bracket 25jections 29, and rigidly secured to said sector 28 is a plate 30, theouter edge of which is formed of a series of stepped concentric arcs Thecenter of mass of the parts car.- ried by saidhu-b is so located thatthe hub and the parts carried thereby tend to rotate in a clockwisedirection, but such movement is normally prevented by the weight of thecore 31 of the solenoid S the said core being connected to the hub bymeans of the link rod 32 which loosely passes through an ear 33 on saidhub and is headed at 34 to form a lost motion connection therewith.

As the arm 17 of the timer hereinbefore' described is moved by thependulum-controlled action of the spring 11, it engages the contact 35and thereby closes the circuit which energizes the solenoid S The core31 is thereupon drawn upwardly and the link 32 slides through theloosely fitting opening in the ear 33. The hub and parts carried therebyare then free to swing and theswitch 35 is allowed to close (see Fig-'ures 12 and 12). The closing of this switch energizes the magnet 36carried upon the free end of the flat spring 37 securedto the frame ofthe scale. The magnet 36 immediately springs into engagement with theplate D, thus locking the indicator shaft and the parts carried therebyagainst movement. The sector-28, with the other parts carried by thehub, continues to swing until the concave edge of the stop members 27engages one of the pins 24, being prevented from rebounding by theinertia of the roller -38 which is journaled at the end of a pivoted arm39 and engages the edge of the sector 0. Each of the concentric arcswhich form the periphery of the plate 22 subtends an angle of 36, andthe plate is mounted on the indicator shaft so that when the load on theplatform is from O to 99 lbs. in weight the longest am will lie inthe-path of a stop 40 carried by a pivoted type-carrying bar 41; whenthe load on the platform is from 100 to 199 lbs. in weight the nextshorter arc will lie in the path of the stop 40, and so on. The type 42on the pivoted type-carrying bar 41 may'therefore be arranged to printthe hundreds of pounds in any load placed on the platform.

The spaces between the pins 24 register radially with the positioningarcs on the plate 23, and the stop member 27 is so shaped that theangular movement of the sector 28 to bring the stop into engagement withone of the pins 24 is directly proportional to thetens and units ofpounds in the weight of the load on the platform.

The plate 30 is secured upon the sector 28 in such position and theconcentric arcs forming its outer edge are so arranged that when theload on the platform is from 0 to 9 lbs. more than an even hundred, thearc of longest radius will lie in the path of the stop 43' upon thepivoted type-carrying bar 44; when the load is from 10 to 19 lbs. the

I adjacent arc will lie in the path of the stop,

etc. The type 45 on this bar may therefore be arranged to print the tensof pounds in any load placed on the platform.

The sector 28 has a projection 29 corre sponding to each of the arcs onthe plate 30, and each projection has a series of steps along one edgeso arranged that the outermost step will lie in' the path of the stop 46on'the pivoted type-carrying bar 47 when the number of pounds in theload on the scale ends in 0; the next outermost step will lie in thepath of said stop when the number of pounds ends in 1; and so on.The'type v48 on the bar 47 may therefore be arranged to print the unitsof pounds of any load on the scale. i

The type-carrying bars 41, 44 and 47 are determined time after itsengagement with the contact 35, closes the circuit which energizes asolenoid S thereby drawing upthe member 49 and allowing thetype-carrying bars to swing to printing position. Movement of the member49jalso operates a check-severing and ribbon-feeding device in a mannerto be hereinafter set forth.

Further movement of the arm 17 of the timer brings it into engagementwiththe contact 52, which closes the circuit energizing the solenoid Sthereby drawing up the core which carries the rack bar 58 meshing withthe pinion 59. The pinion 59 has a ratchet and pawl connection with thefeed roller 60. .VVhen the rack moves upwardly the pawl engages theratchet and the roller is rotated to feed a strip of paper 54 to theprinting mechanism. The printing hammer 53 is carried by one arm of abellcrank lever, the other end of which is operatively connected to thecore of the solenoid S As the core approaches its limit of upwardmovement, the printing hammer strikes against the strip of paper 54,momentarily pressing it against an inking ribbon 55 overlying theprinting hammer, thereby recording the weight.

Since the end of the arm 17 on the timer moves about a pivot and therack, bar 7 moves rectilinear-1y, the pawl 19 eventually slips off. thelug 20 and the arm is swung back to its original position by the spring18 and thereby disengaged from the contacts 52,51-and 35, de-energizingthe solenoids S S and S The overrunning mechanism between the pinion 59and feeding roller 60 permits said roller .to remain stationary duringthe descent of the rack 58. i The core of the solenoid S carries anar1n61 having at its end a lateral projection to engage the strip 54 asthe core .descends and withdraw it sufficien'tly from the reel 56 overthe rollers 57 to leave it slack-when the core ascends, so that it maybe easily drawn between the feed rollers.

'The member 49 carries an apertured lug 62 through which passes a rod 63having a collar secured thereon below the lug 62, a

small coilspring being interposed between the lu 'and the collar. Thelower end of the collar 63 is pivoted to an arm 64 rigidly secured to anoval rocking member 65 which with the grid 66 forms a passage for thepaper between the feed rollers and the inking ribbon. A air of lugs 67extends from the upper portion of the rocking member 65, and lyingbetween said lugs is a projection on the end of a pivoted knife 68. Whenthe member 49 falls, the knife in cooperation with the right-angularedge of a stationary block 69 shears oil the printed .end of the stripforming a ticket, which falls into the. chute 70 and slides into thereceptacle 71located outside the scale housing.

. The member 49 also carries a lug 72 which engages a' lever 73 having apawl 74. pivoted thereto to operate the ratchet wheel 75 (see Figure 9).to one of the rollers over which the inking ribbon passes (see Figure1). Thus, as the member 49 fails, it moves the ribbon to pre sent-afresh portion thereof for the next printing operation. When the member49 descends and engages the type-carrying arms 41, 414: and 47, they areswung out of engagement with the plate 23', the sector 28, and the plate30. As the solenoid S is deenergized the core 31 falls and the head 34of the rod 32 .ngages the ear 3;) and swings the sector 28 to itsoriginal position, thereby opening the switch 35 and (lo-energizing themagnet 36 so that the indicating mechanism is free to swing to itsoriginal position when the weight is removed from the scale.

In order to prevent a repetition of the operation of the printingmechanism when the switch 15 is closed as the solenoid core 6 iswithdrawn under the influence of the spring 11, I have provided there-setting device illustrated in Figure 12. This re-setting devicecomprises a slidable plate 76 of conducting material, upon which issecured a lug 77 of non-conductlng material which is' engaged by the arm17 asit is moved in the operation of the timer. The plate 76, as it isslid longitudinally by movement of the arm 17, is guided by the.resilient contact plate 78, connected to the switch 5, with which itremains in slidable engagement. As the plate 76 is moved by the arm 17'it is withdrawn from engagement with a contact plate 7 9. The contactplate 79 is connected to the switch 15. The contact plate 79 andslidable plate 76 are thus in circuit with the switch 15 and thesolenoid S so that when the plate 76 is withdrawn from engagement withthe plate 79 the circuit is broken and the solenoid S will not-bere-energized even though the switches 5 and 15 be closed.

A retractile spring 80 connected at one end to an adjustably mountedbracket 81 and at its other end to an ear on the lug 77 constantly urgesthe plate 76 into contact with the plate 79. For the purpose ofpreventing closing of the circuit when the arm 'lhe ratchct wheel 75 issecured- 17 returns to normal position and thereby releases the plate76, I have provided a. resilient detent 82 which enga es a notch in theplate 76 and thereby hol s it out of 'en-' tact to be engaged by aresilient arm 85 on the movable member of the. switch 5. Thus, when theswitch 5 is opened the magnet 83 is energized, drawing down the detent82 and allowing the plate 76 to be drawn .by the spring 80 intoengagement with the plate 79. The-circuit energizing the solenoid S maythen be completed by placing a load on the scale platform, therebyclosing the switch 5 so that the printing operation will be repeated.

IVhile it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment of myinvention herein disclosed-is well -alculated to adequately fulfill theobjects primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention issusceptible to variation, u'iodilication-and change within the spiritand scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, apositioning member for determining the position of type carrying means,spaced stop members, connections between said stop members and saidweighing mechanism to move said stopmembers into the path of saidpositioning member, and means controlled by said weighing mechanism formoving said positioning member into engagement with one of said stopmembers.

2. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, apositioning member, spaced stop members movable with said weighingmechanism, means controlled by said weighing mechanism for moving saidposi ioning member into engagement with one of said stop members,type-carrying means movable into engagement with said positioning memberand means controlled by said weighing mechanism .for moving saidtype-carrying means.

3. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a rotatablemember connected thereto, spaced pins carried by said rotatable member,a positioning member for determining the position of type carryingmeans, a curved stop carried thereby, and means controlled by saidweighing mechanism to move said positioning member until said stopengages oneof said pins.

4. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a' rotatablemember connected thereto, spaced pins carried by said rotatable member,a positioning mem-- pins carried by said rotatable member, a

swinging positioning member for determining the position of typecarrying means, and a substantially semi-crescent-shaped stop carriedthereby and adapted to engage one of said pins.

6. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a rotatablemember connected therewith, said rotatable member carryingangularly-spaced stops, a positioning member adapted to swing intoengagement with one of said angularly-spaced stops, said positioningmember'carrying radially-spaced stops, type-carrying means movable intoselective engagement with said radially-spaced stops and meanscontrolled by said weighing mechanism for moving said type-carryingmeans.

7. In a printing scale, in combinatlon, weighing mechanism, a rotatablemember connected therewith, said rotatable member carryingangularly-spaced stops, a positloning member adapted to swingintoengagement with one of said an ularly-spaced stops, said positioning memer having a series of concentric arcs of different radii along its edge,and type-carrying means movable into engagement with one of said arcs.

8. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a rotatablemember connected therewith, said rotatable member carryingangularly-spaced stops, a positioning member adapted to swing intoengagement with one of said stops, said position-' ing member having aplurality of stepped projections along its edge, type-carrying meansmovable into selective engagement with said stepped pro'ections andmeans controlled by said weig ing mechanism for moving saidtype-carrying means.

9 In a printing scale, in combination,

weighing mechanism, a rotatable memberv connected therewith, saidrotatable member carrying angularly-spaced stops, .a position-.

ing member adapted to swing into engagement with one of said stops, saidpositioning member having a series of concentric arcs of different radiiand a plurality of stepped projections along its edge, type carryingmeans movable into selective enmechanism for moving said type-carryingmeans.

10. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a rotatablemember connected thereto, spaced axially extending pins carried by saidrotatable member, a swinging positioning member, a' substantiallysemi-crescent-shaped stop carried thereby and adapted to engage one ofsaid pins, said positioning member having a series of concentric arcs ofdifferent radii along its edge, and type-carrying means movable intoengagement with one of said arcs. v

11. Ina printing scale, in combination,

weighing mechanism, a rotatable member connected thereto, spaced axiallyextending pins carried by said rotatable member, a

swinging positioning member, a substantially semi-crescent-shaped stopcarried thereby and adapted to engage one of said pins, said positioningmember having a plurality of stepped projections along its edge,type-carrying means movable into engagement with one of said projectionsand means controlled by said weighing mechanism for moving saidtype-carrying means.

12. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a rotatablemember connected thereto, spaced axially extending pins carried by saidrotatable member, a swinging positioning member, a substantiallysemi-crescent-shaped stop 7 carried thereby and adapted to engage one ofsaid pins, said positioning member having a series of concentric arcs ofdifferent radii and a plurality of stepped projections along its edge,and type-carrying means movable into selective engagement with said arcsand projections.

13. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a pivotedtype-carrying bar, means to limit the pivotal movement of said baraccording to the number of even hundreds of pounds of load on the scale,a

second pivotal bar, means to limit the pivfrom said weighing mechanismto withdrawv said holding means and allow said positioning member tomove into connection with said weighing mechanism. gagement'with saidarcs and said pro ectlons and means controlled by said weighing 1 5. Ina printing scale, in combination, welghing mechamsm, a positioningmember,

means to normally hold said positioning member out of connection withsaid weighing mechanism, means operated from said weighing mechanism towithdraw said holding means and allow said positioningmemher to moveinto connection with said .weighing mechanism, type-carrying mechanism,means to normally hold said type-carrying mechanism out of engagementwith said positioning means, and means to withdraw the second saidholding means from engagement with said positioning means and therebyallow said type-carrying mechanism to move into engagement with saidpositioning member.

16. A device as defined in claim 15 in combination with means to actuatethe first type-carrying mechanism out of engagement with saidpositioning means, and electric means to withdraw the second saidholding I weighing mechanism,

means from engagement with said position ing means and thereby allowsaid typecarrying mechanism to move into engagement with saidpositioning member.

19. In a printing scale, in combination, type positioning means, meansto normally hold said positioning means out of connection with saidweighing mechamsm, means operated from said weighing mechanism towithdraw said holding means and thereby allow said positioning means tomove into engagement I with said weighing mechanism, printing type,type-carrying mechanism, means to normally hold said type-carryingmechanism out of engagement with said positioning means, means towithdraw the last said holding means and thereby allow the saidtype-carrying mechanism to move into engagement with said positioningmeans, and

means for taking an impression from said printin type.

20. Tie combination with the device definedin claim 19, of means forcontrolling the sequence of operations thereof.

21. In combination with the weighing mechanism .of a scale, a solenoid,means to energize solenoid upon movement of said weighing mechanism fromzero position, a timing device operated by said solenoid, a plurality ofsolenoids controlled by said timing device, and printing mechanismcontrolled by said weighing mechanism and operated by the last saidsolenoid.

22. In a printing scale, in combi'mtion, weighing mechanism, a circuit,a normally open switch in said circuit, means for closing said switchupon movement of said weighing mechanism from zero position and openingupon return of said weighing mechanism to zero position, a timer,electric timer operating means in said circuit; a normally closedclrc-uit breaker in said circuit opened by operation of said timer, and

means operated upon opening said switch to close said circuit breaker.

23. In a printing scale, in combination,

weighing mechanism, a timer circuit, means connected to said weighingmechanism to close said circuit upon movement of said Weighing mechanismfrom zero position, a timer operated upon closing said timer cir-. cuit,type-positioning means, an operatin circuit therefor, a device forlocking sai weighing mechanism, an operating circuit for said lockingdevice closed upon movement of said positioning means, type-carryingmeans, an operating circuit therefor, printing mechanism, and anoperating circuit for said printing mechanism, the circuits foroperating said type-positioning means, type-carrying means and printingmechanism being successively closed and then opened by said timer.

24:. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a timercircuit, means connected to said weighing mechanism to close saidcircuit upon movement of said weighing mechanism from zero position, atimer operated upon closing said timer circuit, type-positioning means,an operating circuit therefor, a device for locking said operatingcircuit for said locking device closed upon movement of said positioningmeans, type-carrying means, an operating circuit therefor, printingmechanism, an operating circuit for said printing mechanism, thecircuits for operating said type-positioning means, type-carrying meansand printing mechanism being successively closed and then opened by saidtimer, and a check-severing device operated upon the opening of thecircuit for said type-carrying means.

25. In a printing scale, in combination, weighing mechanism, a timerc1rcu1t, means connected to said weighing mechanism to close saidcircuit upon movement of said weighing mechanism from zero position, atimer operated upon closing said timer circuit, type-positionin means,an operatin circuit therefor, a evice for locking sai weighingmechanism, an-

Weighing mechanism, an operating circuit carrying means and printingmechanism for said locking device closed upon mo'vebeing successivelyclosed and then openedby ment of said positioning means, type-carrysaidtimer, a re-setting circuit for said 10 ing means, an operating circuittherefor, timer, and means to close said re-setting cir- 5 printinmechanism, an operating circuit cuit upon return of said weighingmechafor sai printing mechanism, the circuits for nism to zero position.operating said type-positioning means, type- SAMUEL G. CRANE.

